Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Seaside Treasures

 

I wish a happy hello to all of my crafty friends! It's a lovely Wednesday, and a hot one in the Charleston. We're forecast to stay at 97 - 99 degrees for the next six days. I'm super thankful for central air conditioning. I'm not sure how ladies handled the heat back in colonial days. I hope you're finding ways to stay cool as the temperatures soar.         

The seashore is one of the loveliest ways I can think of to beat the heat, and our new two week 'By the Seachallenge begins today at the Frilly and Funkie Blog! Kathy is our hostess and her guidelines are as follows:  

It's summertime, and our minds turn toward the shore where we find sparkling sands, delicate shells and refreshing breezes. This sets the theme for our latest BY THE SEA challenge. Let's take a virtual beach trip by creating any kind of vintage or shabby chic project that features a nautical or beach theme and color palette.
  
At the end of the challenge the team will choose their top four picks. Our first place winner will be invited to join us in a Guest DT spot at The Frilly and Funkie Blog.Three additional talented participants will receive badges to display on their blogs. Everyone who enters and adheres to the challenge guidelines will be entered into a drawing to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique! For entry specifics and  inspiration from my amazing teammates just click on the blog link above.


I love strolling along the beach or Charleston Harbor in the evening, reflecting on God's gifts that are so apparent in nature. My card is inspired by the treasures found in the sea. 

I found the perfect papers in Maja Design's Vintage Summer Basics collection. The center panel is cut out with a Spellbinders circle die, left deep blue to represent the ocean. 


You'll find sea encrusted riches everywhere you look, even the bow!    

Random splashes of sea water are added here and there. 


The mixed media flowers are handmade from mulberry paper, along with a host of products to add texture and sheen. All of the colors you see in my creations are a custom blend of several products. There will be a supply list at the bottom of this post, and I'm planning a tutorial for these flowers as well.    


Miniature starfish and pearls adorn my little ocean. 

 

The seagrass along the side is from a rubber stamp I won in an auction (no manufacturers name on the side).

I finish the interior and back of my cards with coordinating design papers. I usually do a little stamping inside, as you can see with the Tim Holtz stamp in the photo below.  

Thanks for taking a walk by the sea with me! It's time again to turn the challenge over to you! I'm super excited to see your 'By the Sea' creations! 

Hugs, 


Additional Supplies: Glitter Glass, Frantage Elements, Chipboard Anchors, Starfish from Linda's shop, Decorative Netting, Flower Stamens, Sewing Machine, Thread. 

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Extraordinary Adventure Card!


Welcome, dear friends! I'm so excited to be here with you today! I'm sharing a new card on the Maja Design Blog inspired by their stunning Vintage Summer Basics Collection. This week I'm opting for a soothing, neutral palette, handmade mixed media blooms, and some fun rubber stamping.

The base of the card is formed by distressing, layering, and stitching lovely Maja Design papers.

A 2

The flowers are created with mulberry paper and a plethora of products to add texture and color. They coordinate with the card perfectly in real life. I think the camera picked up on the sheen in some of the sprays, giving them a brighter gold tone in my photos. My hands will be stained for days, but these flowers were ever so much fun!

Below is a side view of the bouquet and it's many layers.

A 4

Artistic tearing reveals a second layer of  design paper.

A 5

Below is a closer look at the stamped image and stitching. One of the rubber stamps is an ad for paint, so I blended some acrylics to coordinate with the design paper and randomly splattered it about the card.

A 6

The twine bow and flower stamens are stained to fit in with the color palette.

A 8

The interior of the card is finished in design papers and stamping, but my photos of it didn't turn out well. The picture below gives you an idea of how it's completed. 

A 7

Thank you so much for visiting with me today! I also want to thank you for your kind words on my last post. I treasure each of crafty friends and your comments warm my heart. I wish you carefree, fun filled summer days!

Hugs,

Maja Design Papers Used: Vintage-Summer-BasicsK


Additional Supplies - Dies: Tim Holtz Tattered Florals, Magnolia Rose Leaf, Memory Box Flourish. Stamps: Carabelle Text et Negatif, Paper Artsy Hot Picks 1602, Inks: Archival Ink (Potting Soil). For Flowers: Prima Heavy White Gesso, Prima Texture Powder, Distress Stains, Prima Color Blooms, Lindsay's Stamp Gang Starburst Sprays, Flower Stamens,  Flower Shaping Tools, Mulberry Paper, Acrylic Paints. Pop Up Foam Adhesive, Tim Holtz Distress Tool, Natural Twine, Sewing Machine, Thread

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Pinterest: Did you know that Maja Design has a Pinterest Page? You can find it right here.
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(Use the hashtag #majadesigninsweden or the tag @majadesigninsweden
with your Maja papers so we can find you.)